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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991.0702.TCWSM.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS Low MINUTES OF THE WORK/STUDY SESSION OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL JULY 2, 1991 A public work study session of the Fountain Hills Town Council was convened and called to order by Mayor John Cutillo at 6:30 p.m. , Tuesday, July 2, 1991, in the Conference Room of the Town Hall Offices located at 16836 E. Palisades Blvd. , Building C, Fountain Hills, Arizona. ROLL CALL - Following the pledge to the flag, roll call was taken. Present for roll call were the following members of the Fountain Hills Town Council: Mayor John Cutillo, Vice Mayor Frank Clark and Councilmembers Mike Minarsich, Charlie Fox, Wally Hudson and Bill O'Brien. Councilwoman Tibbetts was absent. Also present were Town Manager Paul Nordin, Town Attorneys Bill Farrell and Nick Dottermann and Town Clerk Cassie Hansen. AGENDA ITEM #2 - TOWN MAGISTRATES MONTHLY REPORT Judge Shoob gave his first annual report from the court. He said that in the first twelve -months, 2,861 cases had been filed and 2,765 cases had been terminated. Pending cases at the beginning of the current fiscal year numbered 96 while trials or hearings held last year numbered 242. The Judge stated that the gross fines collected were $126,895 and $97,000 of that was net to the Town. He added that there was a total of $83,776 in outstanding fines and of that, $25,000 was in outstanding warrants, $34,000 was for license suspensions, and a number of people on payment plans totaling $23,838. Councilman Hudson asked the Judge to briefly explain the difference between a warrant and a suspension. Judge Shoob explained that when a person failed to appear in court on any traffic offense, no matter how slight, the Judge would enter a default judgement for the State and enter an order that would suspend their license for failure to appear. The Judge stated that there were two types of traffic offenses, civil traffic and criminal traffic. Civil traffic offenses such as speeding, disregarding traffic control devices, could only be handled by suspending the offender's license. Criminal traffic offenses such as driving under the influence, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, etc. could be handled by issuing warrants for the offender's arrest. AGENDA ITEM #3 - MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Cutillo stated that he had attended a few meetings in the past month, one of which was the Southeast Regional Landfill Siting Committee meeting. He said that a consultant firm, Malcolm Pirnie Consultants, had been recommended at that meeting and that the Board of Supervisors would decide on July 22. Mayor Cutillo said that the firm would select six sites and then narrow that selection down to two sites. They had been instructed to have one of the final sites be in southeast Maricopa County. Mayor Cutillo said that the other area being looked at was all of Final County and that the study would take approximately six months. Mayor Cutillo stated that he had attended the M.A.G. meeting at which the officers for 1991-1992 were elected as follows: Chairman, Mayor Rubach of Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council 7/2/91 Page 1 of 5 Mesa; Vice-Chairman, Mayor Hayes of Tolleson; and Treasurer, Mayor Mitchell of Tempe. Mayor Cutillo said that he had a copy of the Federal Department of Nui) Environmental Quality's report on air quality measures and controls that anyone who was interested could review. Mayor Cutillo stated that the second topic of discussion at the Federal Department of Environmental Quality was solid waste management and that the study had just been completed. It showed that Maricopa County had twenty years of life left, including all presently operating private and municipal land fills. Mayor Cutillo said that the proposed plan from the Transit Citizen's Advisory Committee was available to read and that plan did include Fountain Hills, however, it was contingent upon a one-half percent sales tax being approved by popular vote. Mayor Cutillo said that he also had attended the dedication of the Edith House at the Sunset Kiwanis Club and that a representative from the Governor's Office of Education, Supervisor Jim Bruner, Scottsdale Mayor Herb Drinkwater, the Kiwanis District and Regional Presidents and the President and Vice-Presidents of Rural Metro, along with Councilman Minarsich and Councilman Fox were present. Mayor Cutillo concluded his report with an invitation to all present to attend the July 4th celebration to welcome home the soldiers from Desert Storm. AGENDA ITEM #4 - RESOLUTION 1991-33, RATIFYING THE EXECUTION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY AND BETWEEN THE TOWN AND VALLEY BANK LEASING. INC. FOR THE LEASE/PURCHASE OF A BK-250D CRACK SEALER. Mr. Nordin stated that the Town Attorneys were reviewing lease documents and preparing items for the appropriate action with regard to the lease/pruchase of the crack sealer. He said that the Attorneys would have documents prepared for the purchase of the Town's dump truck by the next Council meeting. AGENDA ITEM #5 - AN UPDATE ON THE LOS ALTOS HILLS PROJECT AND POSSIBLE FORMATION OF AN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. Mr. Nordin said that he and Mr. Farrell had some documents form the Los Altos Hills group with regard to the Town's request for a financial security guarantee as a pre-condition to the Council 's recommending approval of the resolution ordering the road improvements. Mr. Nordin stated that staff was still in negotiation with the Felker Group and expected to meet with them within the next few days so that the staff could come back to the Council with a recommendation on Wednesday, July 10. Mr. Farrell said that they had been meeting with the group in anticiption of the passage of the first resolution by the Mayor and the Council. He further stated that the discussions were currently centered around the documentation by the Los Altos Hills Improvement District Group of the funds available for the water and sewer construction that would occur simultaneously with the street improvement. Mr. Farrell said that there were also discussions with the Felker group regarding the golf course and with the Felker group, the Town's financial consultants and bond attorney regarding the security enhancement that could be placed on the bond issue that would give the citizens, the Council and the Los Altos Hills people assurance that the improvement district payments would be made semi-annually. Mr. Farrell said that they had reviewed several possible avenues to take and would either give a status report or a recommendation to the Council next week. Mr. Farrell said that at the July 10 Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council 7/2/91 Page 2 of 5 meeting they hoped to close the first phase which was the adoption of the second 46, resolution. Mr. Farrell stated that they had conferred with Mr. Gliege, the Town's Bond Counsel and he felt that there would not be any problem with a ninety to one hundred twenty day delay in the preparation of the documents in as much as there was already a ninety day window built in. AGENDA ITEM #6 — THE 1991/92 BUDGET OF THE TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS. Mr. Nordin stated that he would review some basics about the budget and give the Council the opportunity to ask questions and give staff an opportunity to hear how Council feels on particular items. Mr. Nordin said that staff hoped that the tentative budget adoption would occur next Thursday. Mr. Nordin complimented staff for the package and thanked them for all of their hard work in the preparation of it. Mr. Nordin explained that no income for the Town would be generated simply by the Council adopting a budget, income would be generated by separate acts either by the Council or by the electorate. He went on to explain a few specific items and said that a budget would simply approve the way money was spent . Mr. Nordin said that there were a number of funds that staff was proposing to be set up that were different than or additions to what presently existed. Mr. Nordin stated that one example of this was the street paving bonds which had budgeted the entire dollar amount of the project so that if the project moved along ahead of schedule, the Town would be able to spend the funds and not wait for the next fiscal year. Mr. Nordin added that the other item in the bond fund was the Los Altos Hills improvement district and this was the same situation as the street paving bond fund and that the total improvement district amount had been budgeted. Mr. Nordin had the Council turn to page eight of the budget and stated that there were several errors in the schedule of road and highway user revenue funds, however, the bottom line was correct and a corrected copy would be available to the Council soon. Mr. Nordin referred to page 56 in the budget packet, stating that Golden Eagle Park had a proposed $960,000 grant figure, the street name signs allotment in the amount of $25,000, the C.D.B.G. grant was already approved in the amount of $60,000, the C.J.E.F. grant had been received. Councilman Fox requested an additional $25,000 to the C.J.E.F. fund and staff concurred without comment. Mr. Nordin addressed page five, the General Fund Summary. Council members questioned the revenue from building permits for the fiscal year and Mr. Nordin stated he felt it would be in excess of $200,000. Councilman O'Brien questioned what would happen if the Town collected more than the budgeted amount and Mr. Nordin stated that the other areas of the budget were in excess of what was expected and the Council, by motion, could transfer funds, for example, from the Bond Fund to the General Fund. Vice Mayor Clark commented that the dollar amount for the building department and permit application fees seemed to be low and Mr. Nordin stated that he felt $300,000 was reasonable. Mayor Cutillo and Councilman Minarsich said that they preferred to keep the figures conservative. Mr. Nordin stated that in the past, the Councils that he had worked with, preferred various staff pay increase methods, some using a combination of a cost of living adjustment and merit increase and some just one or the other. Mr. Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council 7/2/91 4111110, Page 3 of 5 Nordin said that staff had come up with a dollar amount that the Town could reasonably afford for increases, $44,000, and divided it into a sixty-forty split and requested the Council 's ideas and suggestions on the mix. Councilman O'Brien asked how many employees would be divided into the figure and Mr. Nordin stated that he would at that time pass out an organizational chart showing new positions as well as current ones and explained the chart. Mayor Cutillo stated that each Councilmember should have the opportunity to express their opinion. Councilman Fox questioned the dollar amount that was to be used for the pay increases for the staff and Mr. Nordin explained that he had taken the total amount of C.O.L.A. , which was approximately $18,750, and the $25,000 merit amount and then took the appropriate percentage and the payroll figures that appeared in the budget included those increases. Councilman Hudson questioned that the insurance increase was thirteen percent and who would receive a C.O.L.A. increase and Mr. Nordin stated that the increase was thirteen percent and that everyone on board would recceive the increase. Vice Mayor Clark stated that he questioned the inconsistency among other governmental bodies' C.O.L.A. amounts, however he felt that Fountain Hills ' was a reasonable amount . Councilman Minarsich stated that he did not agree with C.O.L.A. pay increases. Councilman Fox stated that he agreed with the combination of a small C.O.L.A. and a merit increase. Mayor Cutillo said that, due to the economic condition of the nation on a whole, he felt that people were more concerned with just keeping their jobs. Mr. Nordin said that he saw that there were four options that he would present to the Council at the next meeting. Mr. Nordin reviewed the staff insurance and answered questions and stated that the numbers were accurate and during the next several months other options would be explored. Councilman O'Brien advised staff that whatever options were presented to the employees, they should be sure to clearly explain all the 4401 details so that staff would know exactly what they had. Mr. Nordin reiterated that at that time the staff would stay with the Intergroup insurance plan. Mr. Nordin then turned to the new position request area of the budget and stated that this was one of the most significant areas of the budget. Much discussion followed. Mayor Cutillo, the Council and Mr. Nordin discussed what procedure would be used to review and pass the budget and it was decided that each department would be discussed, amended and then approved as presented or as amended or rejected. Mr. Nordin reviewed the information systems technician position, the clerical support position under the Town Clerk, the assistant building inspector. Much discussion went on concerning the need of additional assistance in the permit and inspection department and Mr. Farrell pointed out that recently his firm had been involved in two litigations that had involved municipalities and/or the building inspector. Mr. Nordin then discussed the clerical position that would support the parks and recreation and the engineering department. Councilman Fox expressed concerns regarding the multi-talented person that would be necessary to fulfill the drafting technician position and Mayor Cutillo stated that from Mr. Jeppson 's description of the candidates they would look at, they would be two year degree certificate holders and not engineers. Mr. Nordin stated that the position and pay scale would be reviewed. Mr. Nordin said that the next item of discussion was the Magistrate's salary Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council 7/2/91 Page 4 of 5 request and Mr. Nordin and Mr. Farrell strongly suggested that , should the $31,000 salary or any other amount he approved, the Council appoint the Judge to a two year term, beginning and ending on July 1 , at the same time that the salary would become effective. The Council concurred that the Judge should resign and be reappointed as discussed. The Community Center budget was reviewed by Ms. Hansen. It was noted that twenty eight percent of the building's use was by the Town and the Civic Association and those activities did not generate revenue for the facility. Mr. Nordin reviewed the legal fees, parks and recreation and Mr. Nordin stated that he felt that the parks and recreation budget should he changed for the 1991- 1992 fiscal year and much of it applied to the five year plan. Mr. Nordin turned the floor over to Ms. Goodman and she reviewed the parks and recreation department 's plans for the year. Councilman Fox asked about the interns that were in the budget and Ms. Goodman explained that any student that majored in community recreation or leisure studies at Arizona Stare University was required to do an internship of professional placement with a municipality for a period of fifteen weeks and Ms. Goodman had two thousand dollars for the intern's time in the budget . The Council discussed the allotment for the parks and recreation department and agreed to increase the budget amount by $50,000. The budget discussion concluded with Ms . Hansen reviewing the expansion and associated costs page of the budget. AGENDA TTEM #7 - ADJOURNMENT The Town Council adjourned the Work/Study session at approximately 10:30 p.m. TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS By: 3i�4+ 2. "4 /.4,- John M. Cutillo, Mayor art ATTEST: CtiZiaiLt-•/-/. Cassie B. Hansen, To Clerk PREPARED BY: - 6J Lari L. Bratcher, Secretary CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Work/Study Session held by the Town Council of Fountain Hills on the 2nd day of July 199.1. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. DATED this Sty day of September 1991 . Cassie B. Hansen, Town Clerk Minutes of the Work/Study Session of the Town Council 7/2/91 Le Page 5 of 5